Short Stories

I had a bit of difficulty following a few of the short stories. Because they are short, they take the whole time to introduce the character, setting, and plot all mixed together. A lot of the stories, I have realized, are mocking something. The stories are a way for other people to understand or find the humor in other situations.
I found "Dry September" especially hard because it was told by 3rd person. But there were many characters and nobody knew the actual truth. It shows both sides of the story but not the story. Everyone has an assumed idea of what actually happened and they don't car to listen to the other side.
The short stories were very interesting to read and try to follow.
Highlighting is helpful, but I get carried away and end up highlighting everything. I like annotating, though, It keeps me interested.

I read a total of 2 hours reading and annotating short stories.
20 minutes reading "An Abundance of Katherines" By John Green

Looking For Alaska by John Green

*Do not read if you are reading or plan to read "Looking For Alaska" or "The Fault in Our Stars"
(Which EVERYONE should read...)

This week, I finished "Looking For Alaska." Like John Green's other book, "The Fault in Our Stars," it played with my emotions. John Green
The climax of both books are the love interests dying. Right when you get attached to them and then you find out they are gone. Then he shows how the main character and everyone else react and cope with their death. After they are gone, the books become gloomy and overcast.The things they were in all the time seemed lifeless. We realize we took those moments with them for granted. John Green's books don't really end until they find some relief.
I am planing on reading another John Green book. I have yet to pick, I hope it is as meaningful and interesting as these two.

I read for 4 hours and 13 min this week. Completing Looking For Alaska by John Green

Character Voice

(Character with anxiety)
I have to get a good night sleep tonight. I have a big day ahead of me. Everything is going to be so much fun! I can't wait! ...
What if my friends don't show up... or my dress doesn't fit?...
WHAT IF I GET SICK?!?! Oh no! Am I getting sick?
Is it hot in here?
What if he changes his mind about me? What if he doesn't want to go with me?
What if he has already told me and I just wasn't listening or he forgets to pick me up all together?!?
Why is it so cold in here?!?
I need to calm down. ...
Since when is it 12:54? Im going to be exhausted tomorrow.
Great.

Narative

I don't think I need to change any names in my narrative. I think it would be cool to have a picture of my D'var Torah (what I wrote about). Im not really sure what I could add to make it more fun or cool... Maybe a wordle would be cool, or some parts from Numbers 11... I don't honestly know....
I will need to find my speech ...
-Nina

Dialog Texting Mom

  10:00 AM 4-13-13
Mom: Where are you?
Me: Looking 4 u... Where might i find you?
Mom:
 11:49 AM 4-14-13
Mom: Are you doing homework?
Me: Mom, it is a weekend, I am at the pool.
Mom:
 2:15 PM 4-16-13
Mom: Why aren't you answering your phone?
Me:
 2:25 PM 4-16-13
Me: Mom, i just got out of school... My phone was off...
Mom: Ok sweaty
 2:12 PM 4-17-13
Mom: Hi  bunny!
Me:

(This isn't a real conversation, it is an exaggerated conversation...)

Looking For Alaska By John Green

* Spoilers, Predictions, etc. are in this blog post... Do Not Read If You Plan to or Are Reading The Fault in Our Stars...

After reading The Fault in Our Stars, I decided to read another book by John Green. I am currently reading Looking For Alaska.
So far I have seen a lot of similarities in these books. John Green uses metaphors to carry his stories. In The Fault in Our Stars, the character, Gus, is a big fan of metaphors. In Looking For Alaska, a character, The Colonial, says Alaska "lives for pretentious metaphors".
This slightly worries me. Gus and Alaska are both the narrators' love interests. In The Fault in Our Stars, Gus dies...  I haven't reached the rising action in Looking For Alaska yet... But I can guess from the title, something is going to happen to Alaska.
Also, there is a part in Looking For Alaska that speaks about Emperor Augustus. Who used to be on some Roman coins with "Filius Dei" underneath. Which means Son of God.
(So I looked up which book was written first )
Looking For Alaska was written long before The Fault in Our Stars. I wonder if the character Augustus is based from this book.
I am eager to finish this book to see what happens to Alaska.

-Nina

September 10-16, 2013 

I read for 270 minutes, I am 42% into Looking For Alaska

The Fault in Our Stars (last entry for this book)

Last night, I finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

I had very high expectations for this book. John Green did a really great job with describing the characters. I became attached to everyone immediately. Everything Hazel did intrigued me. The deeper I got into the pages, the more attached I got. I can see why everyone who recommended it to me did.

I liked this book because the story was fiction, but the topic wasn't sugar coated. It wasn't a story about a strong girl everyone loved and she also wasn't an inspiration to everyone. (But she inspires me.) She didn't expect people to baby her and tell her it is okay. She had a very real view on her Cancer.

The Fault in Our Stars doesn't have a happy ending. I do agree with my friend, Emma, who recommended it to me: It is a real ending. It isn't a stupid love story where everything is happy and fake. It is real life relatable. It is a melancholy story. I followed the story of two young people fall in love,  everything is flawed but they try to make the best of it.

It touches me that Hazel didn't want to be the one who hurts Augustus with her soon to be death. In the end, she realizes he was the one to hurt her.

3 hours and 16 minutes of reading The Fault in Our Stars 

(finished)

http://www.lovelaughterinsanity.com/2012/07/fault-in-our-stars-john-green.html

The Fault in Our Stars

I didn't really have time to read as much as I did last week. I am really enjoying it though. As I read on, I see more and more reasons why people have recommended it to me. I have even recommended it to my friend.
I have gotten into the romance in the book. I am really starting to get attached to the characters. I can also feel something bad coming. I am dreading the turning point because I do not want my OTP [one true pair... (favorite fictional couple...)]to get messed up. I know that there is something bad coming because Green has kept the pace of the book fairly light. I just hope the the problems can be resolved and end on high notes.

I read for 2 hours and 30 minutes. I am 75% through.

Daily Thought...

When I went to my old school, I used to pass a billboard that said, "If not you, who?" everyday on my way home from school... I am at a different school now. Three years after graduation, I passed that same sign, but it had been changed... To an advertisement for the "McChicken Sandwich"...